Aims

AIMS OF ESPRAS

The National Societies of plastic, reconstructive and Aesthetic surgery, from all over Europe, are affiliated to the umbrella organisation, European Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. The aim of this organisation is to promote plastic surgery both scientifically and clinically, to further education, training and research and to encourage friendship between physicians in Europe and all over the world.

European Plastic Surgery is rapidly developing and producing very high scientific results. This ask for careful distribution of energies in order to give its best, both clinically and scientifically so ESPRAS will coordinate cooperation between the National societies, European Organisations, such as the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (U.E.M.S.), the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (E.B.O.P.R.A.S.), the European Association of Plastic Surgeons (E.U.R.A.P.S.), the European Committee on Quality Assurance and Medical Devices in Plastic Surgery (E.Q.U.A.M.) and the various Interplast Chapters.

This is achieved by the organisation of Quadriennal Congresses, yearly Appointed National Congresses in the years between the ESPRAS Quadriennal Congress, by promotion of exchange between units and countries through yearly ESPRAS fellowships of which three are for clinical and one for scientific exchange.

Quadriennal Congresses of the European Society have been held: 1969 in Brighton, U.K.; 1973 in Madrid, Spain; 1977 in The Hague, Netherlands; 1981in Athens, Greece; 1985 in Stockholm, Sweden; 1989 in Istanbul, Turkey; 1993 in Berlin, Germany; 1997 in Lisbon, Portugal; 2001 in Rome, Italy, 2005 in Vienna, Austria, 2009 in Rhodes, Greece and 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kindom.

“European Appointed National Meeting” was instituted in 1997. This is an annual meeting of a National Society with an international flavour. The language of the meeting is English and Plastic Surgeons of other National Societies are invited to participate. The purpose of these meetings is to present the scientific work of European Plastic Surgeons and to increase cultural and scientific exchange among colleagues from all over Europe. The first “European Appointed Meeting” was held in Istanbul, Turkey in September 1998 and the last one in October 2015 in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

From this point of view, the ESPRAS, has today and will have in the future the burden and the honour of guiding the European Organs of Plastic Surgery toward the safeguard and the development of Plastic Surgery as a discipline and to promote same standards of care all over Europe.